Evangelical Studies Unit

Theme for 2024: Evangelicals, Violence, and Nonviolence  

The Evangelical Studies Unit invites proposals for individual papers or complete panels related to the presidential theme, “Violence, Nonviolence, and the Margin.” We welcome papers exploring how this theme manifests within evangelical theology, history, culture, politics, protest, practice, and/or social vision, and are particularly interested in projects that offer constructive and synthetic approaches to suggest new directions for the study of evangelicalism.

Possible framing questions include: What is the relationship between evangelicalism and violence? In what ways do evangelical structures, beliefs, and commitments foster or reject violence? Where are the sites of nonviolent resistance within evangelicalism? How is violence a part of defining the margins and conceptions of belonging within evangelicalism?

We welcome research related to evangelicals and various ways of defining “violence” using a wide array of spiritual, physical, psychological, and cultural resources. Examples of sub-themes include:

• War
• Guns
• Anger, Protest, & Political Engagement
• Economics and Class Warfare
• Mission & Evangelism
• Gender Roles
• Embodiment & Purity Culture
• Abortion
• Sexual Identity
• Race
• Immigration
• Environmental Care

Lastly, the Evangelical Studies Unit and Religion and Politics Unit welcome proposals a joint session that explore evangelical religion, politics, social polarization in the United States.